Admirals Bounce Bears in Front of Season-High Crowd at Scope

NORFOLK, Va. – In front of a season-high crowd of 7,414 fans at Norfolk Scope Arena, Pierre-Cedric Labrie netted the game-winner in his return from the NHL, as the Norfolk Admirals (26-15-1-2) defeated the Hershey Bears (24-12-4-3), 2-1, on Friday night. The Admirals and Bears, who are now tied for second place in the AHL’s East Division, face off tomorrow night at Scope before both teams begin the All-Star break.

Carter Ashton opened the scoring with his 17th goal of the season, Trevor Smith recorded an assist in his return to Norfolk from the Tampa Bay Lightning and Richard Panik extended his point streak to four games with an assist. Norfolk netminder Dustin Tokarski tied the AHL lead with 18th victory of the season.

The game remained scoreless until just over the midway point of the second period when Ashton opened the scoring. After an initial shot by Panik was stopped by Bears netminder Braden Holtby, Mike Kostka poked the puck over to Ashton, who then sent a backhand shot into the gaping net at 11:32.

The Bears knotted the game at 1-1 with a goal by Jacob Micflikier 6:32 into the final frame. After an Admirals turnover deep in their zone, Cody Eakin fed the puck out in front of the Admirals’ net. Micflikier picked up the loose puck and tucked a shot under Tokarski.

Less than four minutes later, the Admirals took the lead for good. Cory Conacher fed a pass to Smith, who redirected the shot onto the right pad of Holtby. Labrie, who made his NHL debut with the Lightning earlier this month, picked up the loose puck in the goalmouth. He then slipped the game-winner over Holtby's glove for his seventh goal of the season at 10:04.

Despite a six-on-four Bears advantage for close to two-minutes as time wound down, Dustin Tokarski and the Admirals held on for the one-goal victory.

Tokarski (18-9-0) turned aside 29 of 30 shots to record his 18th victory of the season. Braden Holtby (14-11-1) stopped 44 of 46 shots in defeat.

Norfolk was 0 for 9 on the power play while Hershey was 0 for 6 with the man advantage.

Prior to Saturday night’s rematch between the Admirals and the Bears, join us for Guns and Hoses Night to benefit The Children's Hospital of the King's Daughters (CHKD). You get two games for the price of one, as the representatives of area police departments and representatives of area fire departments square off at 4:30 p.m. The Admirals then host the Hershey Bears at 7:15 p.m.

Individual tickets for all regular season games start at just $12. Tickets are available now at the Scope Box Office, all Ticketmaster Outlets, charge-by-phone at 1-800-745-3000 and online at ticketmaster.com.

Admirals 10-Packs for the 2011-12 season remain available for as little as $110. You may also reserve your 2012-13 season tickets with a deposit of as little as $100 per seat today. Stop by the Admirals’ Administrative Offices at Scope, call (757) 640-1212 weekdays from 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. or visit norfolkadmirals.com anytime!

NOTES … Norfolk is now 3-3-0-1 vs. the Bears this season … Pierre-Cedric Labrie scored in his first goal in his first game back after a stint in Tampa Bay … Also being reassigned to Norfolk were Mike Angelidis, Trevor Smith and Evan Oberg … Did not play: Richard Petiot, Alexandre Picard, and Evan Oberg.